Local Author Pens Book On The History Of Burlington County Prison

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A new book looks at the history of an often-overlooked landmark, the original Burlington County Prison.

The architect of the prison in Mt. Holly which opened in 1811 was Robert Mills who later designed the Washington Monument. Dave Kimball, co-author of "The Burlington County Prison", says there are many 6 by 8 foot cells, "He figured that felons should be kept in isolation for a period to give them a chance to meditate on their sins and repent."

But most were not felons, just minor miscreants who were treated much less strictly because the prison was. "Amazingly informally operated. A lot of complaints from neighbors about people who were serving maybe four to ten days for being drunk would be let out to wander around town in the daytime," Kimball adds.

For more information, go to the publisher's website https://www.historypress.net/search word: Burlington.

Reported By John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio.